Law Day 2017

Law Day was designed to stress the vital importance of the legal profession to democratic values as it relates to the liberties and rights we have as American citizens. Law Day originated when American Bar Association President Charles Rhyne proposed a special day for celebrating the US justice system and was later adopted by the United States government when it was established as a nationally recognized day on February 3, 1958 by President Dwight Eisenhower.

Each year Law Day follows a certain theme to highlight the importance of that idea as it affects the legal process. This year’s Law Day theme is the 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy. The 14th Amendment reads: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Adopted July 9th, 1868 as a three-part Reconstruction Amendment series set forth by President Abraham Lincoln, the 14th Amendment gave former slaves citizenship rights and equal protection under the law. Since it’s adaption, this Amendment has assisted in many landmark decisions in the Supreme Court and drastically change state and local government power. One of its’ main powers includes prohibiting state and local government individuals from preventing persons of their basic rights: life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness without proper authorization.

The 14th Amendment covers numerous critical issues in its clauses, including:
- U.S. citizenship (provided they have birthright citizenship)
- The freedoms and protections of citizens
- Due process (including both substantive and procedural)
- Equal protection under the law - Implementation of laws

As part of our civics initiative we ask teachers and lawyers to work with students in your local school or education center and discuss the following question: “What aspects of the 14th Amendment affect you and your community daily?” For additional information and activities regarding civics education visit our civics webpage.